Mrs. Warren's Profession

THE ALLEY THEATRE
www.alleytheatre.org
Gregory Boyd, Artistic Director
Dean R. Gladden, Managing Director

(L-R) Jane Pfitsch as Vivie and Elizabeth Heflin as Mrs. Warren in the Alley Theatre’s production of MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION. Mrs. Warren's Profession runs through February 1st, 2009 on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by Michal Daniel.

Alley Theatre Presents Shaw’s Classic Battle Between Mother and Daughter Over Sex, Love, Money and Morality

Mrs. Warren’s Profession
January 9 through February 1, 2009 on the Hubbard Stage

WHAT
Shaw’s classic battle between mother and daughter over sex, love, money and morality
Mrs. Warren’s Profession
By Bernard Shaw
Directed by Anders Cato
Hubbard Stage
January 9 through February 1, 2009

Shaw’s ultimate test of a mother-daughter relationship is one of his most enduring and best-loved plays. Kitty Warren has worked hard to provide the comfortable upbringing she never had for her daughter Vivie. Now that Vivie is about to embark on her own career, her mother decides that it is time for the feminist daughter to finally learn the truth about her mother’s profession. Recommended for general audiences.

Mrs. Warren’s Profession is supported by Presenting Sponsor The Humphreys Foundation, Honorary Producers Connie and Roger Plank, and Associate Producer Carol and Mike Linn. The Alley Theatre is supported by the 2008-2009 season sponsor Continental Airlines, the official airline of the Alley Theatre.

TICKET INFORMATION
Tickets to Mrs. Warren’s Profession start at $21. All tickets to Mrs. Warren’s Profession are available for purchase at www.alleytheatre.org, at the Alley Theatre Box Office, 615 Texas Avenue, or by calling 713.220.5700. Groups of 10 or more can receive special concierge services and select discounts by calling 713.315.3346. The added convenience of reservations by phone or Internet is available for a nominal fee.

Elizabeth Heflin as Mrs. Warren in the Alley Theatre’s production of MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION. Mrs. Warren's Profession runs through February 1st, 2009 on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by Michal Daniel.

CAPTIONED AND AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE
Saturday, January 10, 2:30 PM
The Alley Theatre is pleased to offer open captioning and audio description for many of our productions throughout the season. To ensure that your seats will accommodate your needs, please call the box office 713.220.5700 when ordering tickets to this performance. Discounted tickets are available for groups of ten or more. Call 713.315.3346 for more information.

PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN
Saturday, January 10, 2:30 PM
The Alley’s "Pay-What-You-Can" program rewards patrons who bring a specified item for a designated charity with the opportunity to purchase up to two tickets in the B section for a minimum of $10 each. Purchase in person at the box office (615 Texas Ave.) on the day of the performance only. Cash or check only. The partnering organizations for Pay-What-You-Can will be announced at a later date. Visit www.alleytheatre.org for more information.

MIX & MINGLE
Thursday, January 15, 7:30 PM
Mix & Mingle is a pre-show mixer that offers food, fun and fabulous new friends. To buy a ticket, please contact the box office at 713.220.5700. For more information about Mix and Mingle, visit www.alleytheatre.org.

Jane Pfitsch as Vivie in the Alley Theatre’s production of MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION. Mrs. Warren's Profession runs through February 1st, 2009 on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by Michal Daniel.

ACTOUT
Thursday, January 22, 7:30 PM
Houston's premiere theatre group for gay and lesbian theatre fans and their friends celebrate the Alley Theatre’s production of Mrs. Warren’s Profession. To find out more visit www.alleytheatre.org. For tickets call 713.220.5700 and mention "ActOUT."

TALKBACK
Saturday, January 17, 2:30 PM
Tuesday, January 20, 7:30 PM
Members of the cast return to the stage following the performance to take questions from the audience. TalkBacks are led by a member of the Alley Artistic Staff.

PAGES & STAGES
Tuesday, January 20, 7:30 PM
For Mrs. Warren’s Profession, the selected reading is Major Barbara by Bernard Shaw. Alley Theatre has partnered with the Houston Public Library to create this pre-curtain event for each Hubbard Stage production. Patrons read a book that has been specially selected to complement each Hubbard Stage production, then can participate in preliminary group and web discussions led by guests from the Houston Public Library. On specific evenings, readers will attend a performance and enjoy a pre-curtain discussion group led by special guests from the Houston area. After the performance, readers can stay for an additional Talk Back led by Alley cast members and artistic staff. Please call Lizz Eynatten at 713.315.5404, or visit www.alleytheatre.org for details.

MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION G. Bernard Shaw’s classic battle between mother and daughter over sex, love, money and morality plays on the Alley Theatre’s Hubbard Stage through February 1st, 2009

(R-L) Jane Pfitsch as Vivie and Elizabeth Heflin as Mrs. Warren in the Alley Theatre’s production of MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION. Mrs. Warren's Profession runs through February 1st, 2009 on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by Michal Daniel.

Shaw’s ultimate test of a mother-daughter relationship is one of his most enduring and best-loved plays. Mrs. Kitty Warren has worked hard to provide the comfortable upbringing she never had for her daughter Vivie. Now that Vivie is about to embark on her own career, her mother decides that it is time for the feminist daughter to finally learn the truth about her mother’s profession.

Nanci: It was interesting. What I kept thinking about was the history of the play. The time it was written, the scandal it must have caused during that time and how it is viewed today. It was banned frequently. It would only open for one night in other places and even though the content is not offensive based on today’s standards.

Theresa: In the Alley Theatre Playbill, there is a historical timeline compiled by Lauren Halvorsen of MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION’S World of Censorship. Based on a review by The New York Herald in a 1905 NY production:

“The whole story of the play, the atmosphere surrounding it, the incidents, the personalities of the characters are wholly immoral and degenerate. The only way successfully to expurgate MRS. WARREN’S PROFESSION is to cut the whole play out. You cannot have a clean pig sty.”

Theresa: But I liked it. It was really, really good. I liked the costumes. And I loved the set. The sets were amazing.

Nanci: The costumes were outstanding. And I have to say that I don’t think that Set Direction and Lighting is given enough credit. And the lighting involved with this play between the scenes….

Theresa: The scene changes were fantastic. Normally I’m used to watching some back scenes guy wearing t-shirt and jeans with a headset moving the furniture around. But this time, they were costumed actors symbolizing the female industrial workforce of the 1890's time period that were doing scene changes. It's a period piece and these lady factory workers, all their movements were choreographed. Everything was perfectly coordinated. This is the first time I found scene changes very entertaining.

Nanci: Yes, the factory women are listed in the cast. But really the Lighting in itself was another character, another element to the play. I absolutely loved it.

(L-R) Elizabeth Heflin as Mrs. Warren and Brandon Hearnsberger as Frank Gardner in the Alley Theatre’s production of MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION. Mrs. Warren's Profession runs through February 1st, 2009 on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by Michal Daniel.

MRS. WARREN……................................………..ELIZABETH HEFLIN

THE REVEREND SAMUEL GARDNER…............................…………JAMES BELCHER

FACTORY WOMEN…………ALISON CORIELL, TRACI HINES, LAURA KALDIS, ELISSA LEVITT, RIVKA NOSKEAU AND LYNDSAY SWEENEY

(L-R) Brandon Hearnsberger as Frank Gardner and Jane Pfitsch as Vivie in the Alley Theatre’s production of MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION. Mrs. Warren's Profession runs through February 1st, 2009 on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by Michal Daniel.

Theresa: The costumes are reminiscent of My Fair Lady. Of course George Bernard Shaw wrote Pygmalion on which My Fair Lady is based.

Theresa: In 1925 he was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. And you’re right. In the Alley Theatre Playbill it is published:

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was born in Dublin to a lower middle-class Protestant family. Due to his dislike of his given first name, Shaw reduced it to an initial, often growling “Don’t George me” at those who mistakenly identified him as anything but Bernard.

Nanci: But you noticed that that’s why they listed this as a Bernard Shaw play because he does not like “George” at all.

Theresa: Let’s talk about the characters. The Reverend Samuel Gardner played by James Belcher….

Nanci: His portrayal was excellent but he wasn’t a likable character. James Belcher did a fine job but…

(R-L) James Belcher as Rev. Samuel Gardner and Brandon Hearnsberger as Frank Gardner in the Alley Theatre’s production of MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION. Mrs. Warren's Profession runs through February 1st, 2009 on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by Michal Daniel.

Theresa: The most despicable representation of hypocrisy, I mean he is a priest for crying out loud. What about Frank Gardner, the son of the reverend? He is played by Brandon Hearnsberger.

Nanci: They all did such fine jobs. This was a character that I really liked in the beginning. And because I liked him so much, I hated him the most in the end. What a little….

Nanci: He was the only one that I didn’t end up hating in the end. I like him. I like his ideals even in today’s society. Granted I am a modern woman and I could relate to the things that Vivie was aspiring to and wanting to be. And it kind of differed from his view of what women should be but I think we could be both. And I liked his romanticism and his view of the world. I really liked him.

Nanci: Not fanatically. I think he was just a decent kind of fellow. Even in the end when Vivie dropped the ball on them, of which I thought they already knew of what her mother did. I still felt like even if he didn’t agree with it and the little punk Frank Gardner was like “there could be nothing between us” I still felt that Praed wasn’t quite as cut and dry with that. He could see the person behind the circumstances. It wasn’t something he agreed with but I didn’t feel he was as cold about Mrs. Warren’s situation.

(L-R) Todd Waite as Sir George Crofts and Jane Pfitsch as Vivie in the Alley Theatre’s production of MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION. Mrs. Warren's Profession runs through February 1st, 2009 on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by Michal Daniel.

Nanci: I think that Frank should have gone ahead and shot him right there in the garden that day. He’s the biggest villain to me. I didn’t like him but I can also see why he was a good partner for Mrs. Warren with respect to her business.

Theresa: Oh they were perfect together. My favorite character is Vivie, who is Mrs. Warren’s daughter played by Jane Pfitsch.

Nanci: Wow Vivie. Vivie really made me think about a lot of things. Vivie is a stuck-up little snob.

Nanci: Yes she is. Through out the entire play, I felt kind of sympathetic towards Vivie. You could even identify with her in some respect as far as her being a woman of the times. She was educated. She wanted to do things with her life aside from just marrying and settling down. But ultimately the circumstances surrounding her decision in the end and the clear cutting of the entire relationship with her mother makes me absolutely sick. And I think that she should have gotten a good spanking. Based on the history of the play and what I read about the reasons why Bernard Shaw wrote the play, I think that’s exactly how he intended for me to feel. Women during that time did not have much opportunity. They were either going to get married or (curses!) they were going to be a scullery maid, something along those lines.

Or they would do what Mrs. Warren did. And it was very unfortunate that she found herself in a position to do that. But I feel like not only did she do it but she did it well. Ultimately she got herself out of the trading of herself and made it into a very profitable business across Europe, basically. And you know that took ingenuity. And Vivie is her child and her child was given the best of everything, the best education and the best of all comforts. In the end all that Vivie was worried about was appearances.

Nanci: She’s a character. She's not really that likable but she is, I don’t know how quite to explain it. Mrs. Warren is an excellent character role.

Theresa: I am more sympathetic of Vivie’s decision in the end. Especially after Mr. Crofts proposition….

Nanci: Oh sure, I mean I could understand too. I could understand her potential embarrassment. But to cut all ties (from her mother) and for it to be so black and white: shame, shame, shame on her. Her mother obviously was not in a position of what society considers as respectful. But the person Mrs. Warren harmed the most was herself and her daughter benefited the greatest out of what her mother did.

Theresa: But Vivie’s argument was not the fact that her mother was a prostitute. She was okay with it when she found out. But the fact that she’s still doing it.

Theresa: Do you think that this reasoning is a poor excuse for her to sever all ties with her mother?

Nanci: It wouldn’t have been good enough for her. And her mother wasn’t out there laying in bed with anyone. Her mother was one of the most profitable madams in all of Europe. Or should I say women’s boarding houses – and Vivie can get over it. Maybe I’m making this a little personal, not that my mom is a madam (laughs). But I learned that despite the closest relationship of my family, of which you naturally have because they’re your family they’re not a reflection of you. Every person is an individual. And here Vivie is talking about being a modern woman and a different kind of woman in that era. Yet in the very end it all boils down to….how people’s “opinions and expectations of what women should be” shouldn’t matter. Yet in the end, that’s what mattered to Vivie the most. Therefore shame on Vivie!

Nanci: Well she had two, I remember there being two. The first one, I thought was obviously fake. The second one I really do believe Mrs. Warren was very hurt. And I have to go back to the fact that this is her mother.

I am not in these same circumstances but I have to look at this from my personal opinion. Therefore based on my personal beliefs and experiences, I was always taught by my grandmother and then by my father to remember the mistakes your parents make so that you don’t make them yourself. And because of that you will still love them without expecting them to be without fault.

Overall the first half of the play was a little long to me but the second half made up for it. I’m glad I stayed for the second half. In the end when everyone came out to take their bows, I felt that everyone’s performance deserved a standing ovation. Except that if you notice, the crowd hesitated before standing up for the evil male characters. When Mrs. Warren came out everyone stood up. But unfortunately the majority of the characters were so unlikable that people could not bring themselves to stand up and applaud for such jerks.

Theresa: Which is a compliment to the writer, it is such excellent writing. Such good dialogue between the characters and development of the story line that it would move the audience to such diverse opinions. I mean the reason I see Vivie’s point of view is because of the fact when Crofts made an attempt to make that offer. She even explains to her mom “I am my mother’s daughter” and that no matter what she does, unless she cuts all ties with her mom, this will be the kind of lifestyle that she will be exposed to. In the end she simply got disgusted with it. She didn’t want anything to do with it.

Nanci: The reason that my opinion differs aside from me being rigid is that in my opinion, the whole play was built around this stance of what a different woman Vivie is compared to the times. Vivie was a new kind of woman, an independent woman, a free thinker and she spent her entire life with that mother and did not know, was not affected or exposed to that lifestyle. Vivie didn’t suffer the consequences of Mrs. Warren’s lifestyle. As a matter of fact, she did nothing but benefit from it. Now granted it was unknowingly and in my opinion, that hateful man Crofts wanted her and couldn’t have her. He did the one thing that he knew he could possibly do to hurt her.

Nanci: Yes. It maybe embarrassing to Vivie what her mother does but to totally disassociate herself from her mother especially with everything she says about herself being her own woman with her own mind and her own opinions and her own values.

To make the decision she made I think was cold and actually quite childish. She was trying to be so adamant about being a grownup and being her own person that I feel that it was childish and hurtful and quite the opposite of being her own person. Her life, her decision was based on what others will think about her. Not because of her love or lack of love for her mother. Shame on her!

Everyone has their own opinion, it’s not about being right or wrong but I left thinking Vivie is a real b*tch. The most sympathetic character to me in the end turned out to be Mrs. Warren. I thought it would be Vivie but for me it was Mrs. Warren.

Theresa: Why are you so sympathetic towards Mrs. Warren? I mean, she’s doing fine, not to mention the fact that she lives this glamorous, very opulent lifestyle.

Nanci: But money isn’t everything. And I’m not a mother but I can imagine being one. I know that a lot of mothers in various ways (not necessarily as madams or what-have-you) do everything they can to take care of their family and their children. Not only did she take care of Vivie but she gave her the best of everything. She still loves her and she sent her away to boarding school so that she wouldn’t be exposed to that. In the end, to be betrayed……and I felt like that’s what it was, the ultimate betrayal. Mrs. Warren was betrayed by Crofts, she was betrayed by Vivie and earlier on she was betrayed by the reverend. And the reverend's son carried on the tradition of that betrayal through his feelings with Vivie.

And the only person who I think did not commit an absolute betrayal was Praed. He was the one that wanted to romanticize the world. Even though he was extremely conservative in his views of what a woman should and shouldn’t do. It wasn’t that he condoned Mrs. Warren’s profession. But he actually tried to encourage Vivie not to sever all ties with her mother even after knowing what she did. And so he, in my opinion is the only hero of that play.

No one should necessarily condone Mrs. Warren’s profession. But I still sympathize with her because ultimately the one and only person who was hurt by, was abused or was wronged in the consequences of her chosen profession was Mrs. Warren herself.

(R-L) Todd Waite as Sir George Crofts and Jane Pfitsch as Vivie in the Alley Theatre’s production of MRS. WARREN'S PROFESSION. Mrs. Warren's Profession runs through February 1st, 2009 on the Alley’s Hubbard Stage. For more information visit www.alleytheatre.org. Photo by Michal Daniel.